MASAABA CHRONICLE - MASAABA CHRONICLE - HEALTHhttp://masaabachronicle.com
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 23:50:18 +0000en-gbBringo Fresh-Best bet for Ugandan urbanities hoping to increase on their per capita intake of natural foodshttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/bringo-fresh-best-bet-for-ugandan-urbanities-hoping-to-increase-on-their-per-capita-intake-of-natural-foods
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/bringo-fresh-best-bet-for-ugandan-urbanities-hoping-to-increase-on-their-per-capita-intake-of-natural-foods Recently whilst launching the national day of physical activity, President Museveni advised Ugandans to engage more in physical activity and to invariably eat right. By eating right, the President, in many respects, meant steering clear of convenience foods, which have become almost second nature for many urbanities.When consumed on a regular basis, convenience foods increase one’s risk of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer.Recent statistics on the above diseases make for grim reading as their prevalence has increased.If the status quo is to change, Ugandans will have to gravitate more towards what the President is saying.The President’s message will obviously play into the hands of groundbreaking online fresh produce companies like Bringo Fresh. Bringo Fresh, for starters, is a new fresh foods online based delivery service.It is the best bet for Ugandan urbanities hoping to increase on their per capita intake of fruits and veggies.Launched on June 15th, Bringo Fresh will have your preferred neat and precise band boxes of sourced fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and even groceries delivered to your door step, at your time of your convenience in Kampala and its environs.For more information on how you can make orders and have them delivered, please check the…]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHFri, 13 Jul 2018 21:29:07 +0000SUCCESSFULLY COPYING WITH STRESShttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/successfully-copying-with-stress
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/successfully-copying-with-stress A few days ago, Jacob Wabuyi rose with the lark. He said a prayer and embarked on his journey, hoping to make it in time for his 9 o’clock Job interview at Housing Finance bank nearKololo Airstrip. Ill fatedly however, Jacob got caught up in an early morning traffic jam at Kubiri, just a stone’s throw away from Wandegeya. At length, Jacob arrived at Housing Finance but he had missed the interview. The ordeal left a depressing damper on Jacob’s spirits. Being prone to low feelings and depression from stressful experiences like Jacob’s is common place but the effects of stress on somebody, Doctor Andrew Bunoti, a Mbale based Stress Psychotherapist notes are dependent in part on his or her inherited strengths, weaknesses and physical condition.

A person with a troubled personality for example, Bunoti explains is more susceptible to stress disorders than say a person with strength of character and a happy go lucky personality. “When stress is properly controlled, it helps one handle life’s everyday challenges, but when it is not subdued, it may cause one emotional and physical problems,” notes Bisikwa Khalayi, a Counsellor at Mukhuwa community counseling center, Mbale. Bisikwa says feeling good about yourself, balancing work and relaxation and developing self improvement skills will help you meet the demands of daily living.

The lack of a positive approach in dealing with stressful situations means many people get inundated and easily give in to self destructive practices like taking drugs and alcohol. According to the health website ehealthmd.com, alcohol and drugs only mask the symptoms of stress without really dealing with the root cause of the problems. Bunoti notes that when an individual undergoes stress, the mind and personality of that person are affected. “Our minds give in to depression and often we develop irritable personalities.” According to psychologists writing on the American Psychological association website, www.apa.org/, low feelings caused by stress can easily degenerate into chronic depression; a condition they say can lead one to neglect good diet and activity habits. They point out that this eventually puts one at a greater risk of heart disease, obesity and Kidney dysfunction. Without a positive attitude in handling stress, Bunoti contends, we lay ourselves open to stress related illnesses and like in Jacob’s case, a damper in self esteem.

Physician Musana Wilbrod of Bumboi health center, Mbale says prolonged stress breaks down the body’s inborn immune defensive system against disease. Musana says when a person sleeps hungry and angry for example, the stomach muscles tighten and become nauseated. As a result, a person develops an open sore in the stomach usually refered to as a peptic Ulcer. The irregular churning action in the stomach can eventually lead to psychosomatic disorder. Other Psychosomatic disorders that are caused and aggravated by stress include Migraine headaches, lower back pains, and irritable bowel syndrome

HOW STRESS AFFECTS THE BODY AND MIND

When we undergo stress, the body’s natural system of balance is disrupted. Responses are triggered within the body during stress like an increase in the heart beat, respiration and sugar supply going to muscles, Bunoti notes the body eventually tries to adapt to stress and restore its natural balance However when a stressful situation becomes overwhelming, exhaustion sets in and the body and mind become susceptible to Illness.

Stress should however, not always be viewed as negative, as sometimes it acts as much needed motivation in what we do. The right amount of stress can motivate one to be alert, energetic focused and can also test one’s adaptability and flexibility, according to researchers writing on the Cleveland medical center Website, Clevelandclinic.org

The point out that Positive cycles of stress, provide the challenges we need in life, to improve physically, mentally and emotionally.

New Stress research also shows that positive physical stress such as working out daily and jogging goes a long way in helping people cope with stress. Bunoti says people with a good social support system {family and friends} enjoy better health and generally live longer stress free lives.

Positive stress reducing lifestyle habits such as, regular exercise, balancing work and relaxation, adopting a positive attitude, getting enough sleep, not skipping meals and establishing regular meal times, carrying out tasks good humouredly, showing tolerance, warmth and friendliness and love to others, could just be your saving grace in stemming the tide of a daily stress.

-Ability to adapt to changes -Ability to Work under authority, rules, limits, problems -Ability to carry out tasks efficiently -Ability to show warmth, friendliness, love Self direction -Sense of humor and fulfillment -Tolerance of others and frustration

· When you have many things to do at once, set priorities. Decide which tasks or activities are most important and tackle those activities first

· Get regular exercise

· Make relaxation a Priority.

· Adopt a positive attitude

· Establish regular meal times and don’t skip meals

· Avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco and Drugs

stress

]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHWed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000Belly fat could end your lifehttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/belly-fat-could-end-your-life
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/belly-fat-could-end-your-lifeShedding off this excess abdominal fat is going to be my highest priority from now on,” says 34-year-old Wilson Nambafu, a middle class Mbale urbanite. His belly bulge has got his folks and friends talking. “They all say I have ‘fallen in things’ (meaning life is good), yet this is far from the truth. My belly fat worries me because I could develop health problems in the future,” Nambafu says. Physician Fred Wamudenyi of Bumboi Health Centre in Mbale, says, whilst some amount of abdominal fat may be normal, excess belly fat is unhealthy. Health risks “Carrying extra fat around one’s midsection is not only unflattering in terms of appearance, but it also poses a huge health risk. Visceral abdominal fat, which gives most men apple-shaped beer belly appearances, is particularly dangerous because it releases inflammatory molecules into one’s body on a consistent basis,” he says. These inflammatory molecules, Wamudenyi points out, adversely affect the proper functioning of the heart and eventually infiltrate the liver. Wamudenyi says that a big waistline greatly increases the risk of developing heart disease, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis (a medical condition in which bones become fragile from loss of tissue), diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, sleep…]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHMon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000HEART BURNhttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/heart-burn
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/heart-burn

I never knew my enjoyment of certain foods would come at a price, laments Simon Kuloba, a 36 year old Car Mechanic plying his trade in Mbale’s boisterous industrial area. “Soon after eating some foods, i experience pain, discomfort and an acidy feeling around my chest and upper abdomen. my productivity has steadily been going down. While many may dismiss it as a minor condition or more than just another uncomfortable inconvenience, Physician Steve Wantenyeli of Mukhuwa Health center, Mbale says heartburn acid reflux should not be treated lightly especially when it occurs frequently. “Heartburn is a serious condition that should not be ignored. it affects 2 out of every 25 people in Uganda, at a rate of at least twice a week. digestive acids or bile in the stomach trigger heartburn by making contact with the lining of the esophagus.” These digestive acids, Wantenyeli points out, are meant to stay in the stomach and not to go flow back to the esophagus. “When digestive acids frequently go back to the esophagus, the delicate lining of the esophagus is slowly destroyed”. Heartburn as a condition has nothing to do with the heart, Wantenyeli asserts. “It’s in effect a digestive problem…

health

HEART BURN

]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHMon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0000STORY OF WANIAYE A KAPOSIS SARCOMA PATIENThttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/story-of-waniaye-a-kaposis-sarcoma-patient
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/story-of-waniaye-a-kaposis-sarcoma-patient It is decline of evening, the silence is deafening, the bird chirps dying down. Whilst the village kids frolic, deeply engrossed in their play time. Without a shadow of a doubt, this Village provides the best and widest view of that famous Mbale landmark-mountain Wanale. It is said a traveler without observation is like a bird without wings. Was i about to be that bird? No, so i kept moving, whilst at the same time, my eyes cast about keenly observing. As i traverse further through Mango Village, Namalogo Parish, Bumboi, Mbale, my eyes bask in a glow, as they feast on lots of interesting sights and sounds. The pity however that later stares me In the face when I come across frail, disheveled and diseased 27 year old Waniaye Yassin threatens to ruin my hitherto placid and enjoyable sojourn. On the face of It, Waniaye is awkwardly emaciated. He is clearly out of sorts with a sickness that is eating away both his legs. Saddled with this depreciating Illness, one would assume, Waniaye Is out of humor and despondent. On seeing him, I thought he was a Kill joy. Waniaye however Is a far cry from that and hardly…

KAPOSIS SARCOMA

health

PATIENT

]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHFri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000MUST HAVE HEALTH TESTS FOR ALL MEN WHAT SHOULD BE ON EVERY UGANDAN MAN’S CHECKLISThttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/must-have-health-tests-for-all-men-what-should-be-on-every-ugandan-man-s-checklist
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/must-have-health-tests-for-all-men-what-should-be-on-every-ugandan-man-s-checklistBy Richard Wetaya 30 year old Opio Moses took his first blood pressure and diabetes health

tests a fortnight ago at AAR Bugolobi clinic. Opio says he waited with bated breath to hear his results “The results eventually showed i had a clean bill of health. I was nervous however as i waited for the doctors to hand me my results. The Doctors advised me to take screenings for other health conditions frequently. I now have a personal quick reference checklist for the health tests, i intend to take next month the subsequent months,” Opio says

Doctor John Bwanika of the Medical Concierge group, Kampalasays regular health tests for men are an important means of detecting and warding off diseases.

“Regular health tests should be an integral part of every man’s health care. They ensure that one will enjoy the best possible health. What you do not know can hurt you, so go for early health tests even if you do not suspect any illness. The earlier diseases are diagnosed, the greater the probability that they will be forestalled through early treatment or through lifestyle changes,” Bwanika says

An old French proverb states that a healthy man is a successful man. It therefore makes a whole lot of sense for every man in this day and age to stay on top of their health.

Drawing up a checklist for must have regular health tests is a step in the right direction, Doctor Fredrick Womudenyi of Bumboi Health center, Mbale says

MUST HAVE MEDICAL TESTS FOR MEN.

WHAT SHOULD BE ON EVERY MAN’S CHECKLIST

BLOOD PRESSURE

According to Ministry of health statistics, about 30% of Uganda’s adult population has high blood pressure. Hypertension is a silent disease which shows no symptoms. About 80% of Ugandans affected by it are not aware of its symptoms or its complications. That manifests why it is very important for every adult male to have their blood pressure taken periodically as a preventive measure. Bwanika saysmen of all ages should have blood pressure checks at least once every year. “Blood pressure is a condition that knows no boundaries. It affects babies, children, teenagers, young adults, older adults as well as elders. If one’s blood pressure continues to rise for a long time without treatment, one’s heart has to work extra harder than it should to pump blood. This can result in heart disease, strokes or kidney failure,” Bwanika says

If you go for a blood pressure test, make sure the people carrying out the test are not using an automated blood pressure machine however. “Automated blood pressure machines are often inaccurate. Blood pressure fluctuates, so a single reading should not be interpreted as being hypertension. Hypertension is blood pressure consistently above 140/90. Normal blood pressure is lower than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Every time you visit a medical doctor, get a blood pressure evaluation. If your numbers are above 125/80, it is best to check your blood pressure every year. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy 110/75 mm Hg or less is very important,” Womudenyi says

CHOLESTEROL

A person with high cholesterol is regarded as a potential candidate for heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and artery hardening diseases like arthrosclerosis. A blood cholesterol test is good because it gives your doctor important information about your risk for cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and its arteries). “Men should have their cholesterol levels checked at least every 3 years between the ages of 20-30 and then every 2 years between the ages of 30 and 40. And every year after the age of 40,” Bwanika says Normal levels of cholesterol vary between 150-200 mg. Adoctor may recommend more frequent tests if your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dl or higher and if you areolder than 45 years. Lowering your cholesterol through an improved low fat diet and lifestyle will significantly reduce the odds of getting heart disease and other diseases associated with high body cholesterol, Womudenyi says

HIV

According to Ministry of Health statistics, about 7.2% of Uganda’s population isliving with HIV. This amounts to around 1.4 million people. The figures of Ugandan males living with HIV unknowingly are not readily available but it is a known fact that many Ugandans live with HIV unaware that they have it because they do not subscribe to the idea of getting tested for it. “Anyone above age 18 and sexually active should get tested frequently for HIV, even if they think they are not at risk. Men with multiple sexual partners should know it is incumbent upon them to test often. They owe it to themselves and their families. Getting tested regularly should be a precept for every man. It should be part of one’s regular medical care,” Womudenyi says

MUST HAVE HEALTH TESTS FOR MEN IN THEIR 40’S AND 50’S

DIABETES

Over 4 million Ugandans are diabetic, according to World health organization estimates. Often referred to as the prosperity disease, diabetes like many other deadly illnesses needs early interventions. One of the best early interventions is getting an early diabetic test, although statistics in Uganda show that few Ugandans go for diabetic tests. The Majority always go for diabetic testing when it is too late. “Diabetes can occur in all age groups. The greatest incidences however occur in middle aged or older aged persons. Men aged 40 years or older and overweight should consider getting tested for type 2 diabetes every 3 years. If blood sugar levels are in the normal levels, it is reasonable to have tests every 3 years. Prediabetics should consider taking tests for type 2 diabetes every 1 to 2 years to prevent full blown diabetes,” Womudenyi explains

COLON CANCER

Womudenyi says colon cancer testing is also very important for men in their 40’s and 50’s. Colon cancer is according to World health organization statistics, the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men, world over. If detected early however,chances of survival are high. “Men between the age of 40 and 50should take the Hemoccult test every year. This test screens one’s stool for microscopic amounts of blood that can be the first indication of polyps or colon cancer,” Bwanika says

PROSTATE CANCER

Adult African men, especially those between the age of 45- 50, owe it to themselves to frequently take prostate specific antigen tests. These tests which should be carried out every year are invaluable in detecting prostate cancer. Recent Scientific research has shown that men of African descent are particularly at a greater risk of prostate cancer than any other race. “A big number of adult Ugandan males are not aware of this condition. Few take the early urinary symptoms serious. It explains why over 60-80% present with very advanced prostate cancer when they report to hospital,” Kampala based consultant Urologist, Stephen Watya says Statistics from the Uganda Cancer Institute show that Cancer of the prostate is now the most common among Ugandan men, with age standardized incidence rates of 39.6 per 100,000 per annum.

BONE MINERAL DENSITY FOR BONES

All men aged 70 and above should have their bone mineral density tested. “Bone mineral density is a measurement of the concentration in bones of minerals vital for strong bones. A high bone mineral density test means above average amounts of calcium, which is a pivotal nutrient for healthy bones. A low bone mineral density can mean a loss of bone mass due to diseases like osteoporosis. “The human body needs more calcium than any other mineral. To have healthy bones as you age, eat calcium rich foods such as milk, eggs, vegetables and fish,” Womudenyi adds

HEART RHYMTH TESTS

It is also advisable for all adult men to have anelectrocardiogram test. “This is a painless test that determines if the rhythm of one’s heart is normal. It determines if the heart’s chambers are enlarged or under strain. A doctor will be able to determine if one’s heart is getting enough blood after this test. A doctor will also be able to establish if one has ever had a heart attack or heart disease after this test,” Bwanika saysBODY MASS INDEX

A regular body mass index test is also invaluable. It measures your health based on your height to weight ratio. It is also a measure of obesity.

“If one’s body mass index is high, there is an increased risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol,” Womudenyi says

OTHER WORTHWHILE TESTS

Adult men should as well complete regular monthly self examinations of their testicles, mouth and skins, checking for lumps, lesions, changing moles, freckles and other abnormal growths. A urinalysis to screen or test for diseases or infections of the urinary tract and testosterone screenings are also important. Men should bear in mind that early proactiveness is pivotal in keeping diseases at bay, Bwanika says

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]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHFri, 03 Oct 2014 15:50:00 +0000HERE IS HOW YOU CAN ENJOY GOOD HEALTH IN 2015http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/here-is-how-you-can-enjoy-good-health-in-2015
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/here-is-how-you-can-enjoy-good-health-in-2015By Richard Wetaya The expression, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound

of cure” is definitely true about health. Ounces of change in your health habits and lifestyle may just turn out to be your key to enjoying good health in 2015. Practicing positive health habits in 2015 will not only enable you to steer clear of health risks but will increase on your chances for a long life. “In 2015, the focus should not just be on avoiding sickness but on taking up positive health habits and healthful lifestyles. Positive health habits and lifestyle choices are the only safe bet to achieving clean bills of health in 2015,” Dr. John Mark Bwanika of the Medical Concierge Group, Kampala says.

Much as positive health choices and resolutions are difficult to live by, they are, by and large, worth striving for, on the basis of the risks unhealthy habits pose. The World health organisation for example warns that many non communicable diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, obesity, etc) in the world occurdue to adoption of unhealthy lifestyles and unhealthy eating. The WHO warns that many of the aforementioned non communicable diseases are expected to account for 60% of the disease burden and 73% of all deaths in the world by 2020. WHO estimates, at present, show that 4 million people in Uganda are diabetic, whilst statistics from the health ministry show that about 30% of Uganda’s adult population has high blood pressure.

HEALTH CHOICES FOR 2015

Every Ugandan should look forward to a healthier 2015 on the evidence of 2014, which passed off as an epidemic free year in our country. “A healthier 2015, for starters, should mean embracing better and good nutrition. Good nutrition begins with eating a variety of foods with adequate starch and fiber. That should be a dietary guideline for every Ugandan in the New Year. In your meals, include selections from fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, yogurt, poultry, fish, eggs and legumes. All the above foods are good sources of fiber and starch. People however need to be more cautious of the kinds of food they partake on in 2015. The Ugandan diet, as it seems, is rapidly changing for the worse. The average Ugandan diet today consists of more red meat than ever before. That needs to change in the New Year. The high salt and fatty fast foods growing in popularity today are no good in terms of the provision of basic nutrients like proteins, minerals and vitamins that the body needs for energy, growth of tissue and the regulation of body functions. Alcohol and tobacco should be avoided as well,” Doctor Fredrick Womudenyi of Nyondo hospital, Mbale, advices.

Safeguarding personal health in 2015 will also call for more regular physical activity. Physical inactivity can have serious health implications. According to the 2014 World health organisation physical activity fact sheet, Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death worldwide and causes 6% of all deaths. The World health organisation says approximately 3.2 million people die each year due to physical inactivity.

“On the above evidence, Ugandans should endeavor to avoid sedentary and passive lifestyles in 2015. Regular physical exercise is nature’s best tranquillizer. Exercise ensures an improved quality of life and also guarantees that one maintains ideal weight. Regular exercise of moderate intensity such as walking, swimming, dancing, jogging, cycling, or doing sports has significant health benefits and should be a priority for people in the New year. It has enormous therapeutic effects on the cardiovascular system {heart and blood vessels] and the respiratory system and is also a good buffer for stress” explains fitness expert, Moses Opio.

Finding better and constructive ways to manage stress should also come in handy as a good health resolution for the New Year. Once stress is effectively managed, there is zero chance that it will put a damper on one’s mental and physical health. Once stress is not properly managed, it can trigger infertility, indigestion, mood disorders, migraines and heart attacks. Stem the tide of stress in the New Year by making relaxation a priority however busy your work schedule may be. In addition, adopt a positive outlook on life and get enough sleep,” Paul Wanetosi, psychologist at the Wanale community counseling initiative, Mbale, explains.

If you have been into the unhealthy habit of depriving yourself of sleep in the past year, it is time for a change. Get enough sleep in 2015. “Sleep refreshes the whole body and is essential for a sense of well being. It is during sleep that growth hormones, necessary for repairing tissue in adults and for growth and maintenance of a healthy body in children are released into the blood. 6 to 8 hours of sound uninterrupted sleep enables body systems to rest. Insufficiency of sleep leads to death of brain cells and increases risk of diseases of the heart and blood vessels,” Doctor Joseph Baluku of Mulago hospital states.

In 2015 as well, Ugandans will need to embrace better attitudes. “A positive and optimist attitude towards life means one’s mind is healthy. A healthy mind and body provide the basis for a positive sense of mental and physical wellbeing. A positive sense of wellbeing enhances on one’s relationships with family and friends hence improving one’s social environment. People need to let go of their gloomy outlook on life, there are a lot of positives in our country and we need to celebrate that,” Wanetosi says.

Good health also largely depends on the environment in which many of us live in. A healthy and safe environment around the home and in our urban areas is what everybody should aim for in the New Year, even if most environmental risks call for broader community action. “Hygienic sanitation facilities around the home or in public places need to be regularly improved at an individual and community level. This is because deaths still occur in our country as a result of inadequate water, poor sanitation and hygiene each year. Recent research has shown that poor hygiene habits in Uganda account for 75% of the country’s disease burden. In Ugandan urban areas, only 30% of households have proper or improved sanitation facilities. The rural access to improved sanitations is even worse. Around the homes, people should ensure that there are no bushes and stagnant water. Drinking and recreational waters should be protected from disease causing microbes and toxins. Hand hygiene which is the simplest and most effective way of avoiding infections should be emphasized in homes. Hand washing reduces one’s toxic exposure and prevents the spread of infection. It keeps bacteria and illnesses at bay,” Ali Halage, a Lecturer at the Makerere University School of Public Health, explains.

The 2014 World health organisation sanitation fact sheet puts the number of annual deaths from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene in low income countries at more than 840 000. Poor sanitation is the main cause in some280,000 of these deaths, the fact sheet shows.

Additionally, people need to reduce on their counterproductive solid waste disposal ways and to watch for their exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing agents). “Solid waste disposal is still a problem in many Ugandan urban areas. Solid waste is a high source of environmental health hazards in many urban areas. The health effects of these hazards include cancers, birth defects and hereditary changes. Other environmental health risks that people need to watch out for include unsafe consumer products, windblown soil dust particles, unsafe water and foods,” Halage says.

Start the New Year on clean slate in terms of your appearance. When people meet you in the New Year, they should notice an improvement in your appearance. The good appearance should be reflected in the way you take care of your skin, nails, hair and teeth. The skin protects the body against injury, infection and heat loss. It also helps regulate water and chemical balance in the body. It is therefore pivotal to keep your skin looking good in the New Year as it is an important part of your appearance. Taking good care of your skin means keeping at bay conditions such as acne, boils and allergies. Proper hair care in the New Year will come in handy in warding off dandruff, lice, excessive hair growth, hair loss and ringworms. Dirty, broken and bitten nails and cuticles are unattractive and can lead to painful and serious infections. Proper dental hygiene will also prove useful especially in eschewing tooth decay and periodontal disease,” Womudenyi says.

Regular health checks should be an integral part of every person’s health care in the New Year. “Regular health checks will come in handy in ensuring that individuals enjoy the best possible health as the New Year progresses. The earlier diseases are diagnosed, the greater the probability that they will be forestalled through early treatment or through lifestyle changes,” Bwanika says.

You can add spark, color and fullness to your life in 2015 by showing maturity in the way you handle and deal with your emotions. “Emotional maturity shows in the way one handles himself around other people and in the way they direct their emotions towards more constructive activity. People who are emotionally mature are considerate of others and they accept pleasures and disappointments gracefully. Emotionally mature people have good human relationship skills and as such, they enjoy better mental health and are able to live at peace with themselves. They are also able to meet the demands of life and they interact more successfully with others,” Wanetosi explains.

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]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHMon, 12 Jan 2015 19:03:00 +0000DESPITE CHALLENGES UGANDA IS POSITIONING ITSELF TO ATTAIN UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGEhttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/despite-challenges-uganda-is-positioning-itself-to-attain-universal-health-coverage
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/despite-challenges-uganda-is-positioning-itself-to-attain-universal-health-coverageThe Ministry of health in Uganda has secured $20 million from the Global Financing Facility to foster the result based financing initiative, which aims at improving the quality of health care at health facilities country wide. Prof. Anthony Mbonye, the Director of health services in charge of Clinical and Community Health in the Ministry of Health revealed this while addressing Journalists at the first national symposium on universal health coverage that took place last week at Silver springs Hotel. “The hope is that more private and public health facilities will get accreditation because the more a facility avails services to pregnant women and children of immunisable age, the more funding it gets. This performance based funding is meant to improve quality of care at health facilities and to make sure health workers get allowances, uniforms and buy supplies. This will be one of our stronger paths to universal health coverage,”He said. At the symposium, there were further earnest deliberations on how best Uganda can build an understanding on attaining universal health coverage. Universal health coverage, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is the goal that all people have access to health services and do not suffer financial hardship in…

UGANDA

universal health care

]]>info@masaabachronicle.com (Wetaya Richard)HEALTHWed, 09 Sep 2015 16:34:00 +0000IT’S WORLD AIDS DAY TODAYITS BEEN 31 YEARS SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF THE KILLER DISEASE BUT WE STILL HAVE NO CURETHERE HAVE BEEN GLIMMERS OF HOPE HOWEVER Read on belowhttp://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/it-s-world-aids-day-todayits-been-31-years-since-the-discovery-of-the-killer-disease-but-we-still-have-no-curethere-have-been-glimmers-of-hope-however-read-on-below
http://masaabachronicle.com/news/health/health/it-s-world-aids-day-todayits-been-31-years-since-the-discovery-of-the-killer-disease-but-we-still-have-no-curethere-have-been-glimmers-of-hope-however-read-on-belowThirty one years after the discovery of HIV, a cure still remains a distant reality. The very complicated nature and variety of HIV has meant that the virus has resisted even the most vigorous of attempts by scientists to eliminate it and to quell its spread. That a cure has eluded scientists this long, is in a way, an indictment in itself, but it is worth noting that there have been real glimmers of hope, in recent years, principally in the area of scientific research on drugs to mitigate and suppress the deadly virus. Those glimmers of hope have manifested in the radical advances made by scientists in developing antiretroviral therapies that control HIV viral replication in a person’s body and allow an individual’s immune system to strengthen and regain its capacity to fight off infections. The antiretroviral therapies may not be curative but they have, by and large, led to favourable outcomes amongst many people living with HIV, not only in Uganda but world over. The upshot has been many of them living longer.

Despite those advances, many experts agree that there is still significant leeway to be made up if a cure for HIV is to be developed. Efforts to develop an HIV vaccine started in earnest in the 1980’s but up to now there is no vaccine. The question many people in the world still ask however is, what is it going to take to progress and stride beyond the status quo, where people will not only rely on antiretroviral medications, but will get curative vaccines that can completely eradicate the HIV virus from their bodies.

“The challenge in developing a vaccine against HIV is that the body's immune system is frail when it comes to eliminating the HIV virus. HIV establishes infection rapidly, mutates at a furious rate and attacks the very cells of the immune system that the body uses to defend against viruses. The virus also takes over the genetic material of normal immune system cells, often lying inactive for months or even years. When it is activated, it is too late for an immune response to be of use because the virus has co-opted cells to churn out millions of HIV copies,” explains Dr Samuel Biraro of the Uganda Virus Research Institute.

What has been at issue as well for many scientists embedded in HIV vaccine research is the immune evasion mechanisms of the HIV virus. “The HIV virus transforms with ease. Even when the immune system recognizes antigens on the virus and produces antibodies against it, the virus changes before those antibodies can do much. That is why existing vaccines against the infection eventually fail; the virus changes and becomes resistant to them. A vaccine will however be needed to fully and sustainably stop HIV from spreading and from killing people,” Biraro adds.

According to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, two thirds of all HIV related deaths in 2014 were in sub Saharan Africa.

Doctor Henry Mugerwa, Head of Research at the Joint Clinical Research Center in Sseguku notes that whilst there has been slow progress in developing a workable HIV vaccine, more has been learnt about the virus that can be incorporated into new attempts to eliminate it. “The science of HIV-vaccine development is challenging, but scientific understanding continues to improve all the time. A number of HIV vaccine trials have had mixed results. In April 2013, one of the latest HIV vaccine studies, known as the HVTN-505 study, which used a weakened cold virus called Ad5 to trigger the immune system to recognize HIV proteins was stopped. It was determined that the vaccine did not prevent HIV infection or reduce the viral load. One of the most successful HIV clinical trials to date has been a US Military HIV Research trial in Thailand in 2009. Known as the RV144 trial, two vaccines were used together: a “prime” (the ALVAC vaccine) and a “boost” (the AIDSVAX B/E vaccine). This combination vaccine was found to be safe and somewhat effective. The combination vaccine lowered the rate of HIV infection by 31 percent compared to a placebo shot,” he says.

Mugerwa adds that whilst a 31 percent reduction is not sufficient for wide use of the vaccine combination, the success allows researchers to study why there was any protective effect at all. “The study showed that a preventive HIV vaccine is possible. The latest major vaccine trial involves the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Patients are being recruited in London, England and Kigali, Rwanda. This trial uses multiple strategies, and carries the hope of many. It will take 2 years to complete,” Mugerwa reveals.

Scientists at present are studying and researching further on the protective immune responses that were stimulated by the Thailand HIV vaccine trial. Trials are now planned to see if an RV144-like regimen will protect against a strain of HIV infection found in South Africa and against HIV acquisition by people at higher risk of exposure.

UNAIDS, which is a United Nations body advocating for the acceleration and comprehensive coordination of global efforts against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, is also working closely with other global stakeholders to gauge the impact of the RV144 regimen in different countries and on different populations. According to UNAIDS, 10% of HIV infections could be averted if the same 31% efficacy was found in people who receive the vaccine. This shows that a modestly effective HIV vaccine could add to the prevention toolbox of partially effective methods, speeding up the decline of the HIV epidemic.

To build further on the success of the RV144 vaccine trails in Thailand, organisations such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States and the United States Military formed the Pox-Protein Public-Private Private Partnership in 2014. The partnership aims at producing a safe and effective HIV vaccine and furthering the scientific understanding of the immune responses associated with protection against HIV infection. Today, the partnership scientists are working to both improve and prolong the protective effect as seen in the RV144 study by using an extra vaccine boost and alternative adjuvants to increase antibody durability.

Of recent, American scientists have made strides in characterizing and developing powerful neutralizing antibodies that target different HIV strains. The scientists are hoping to design vaccine regimens that stimulate the immune systems of uninfected people to produce body neutralizing anti bodies capable of preventing infection by the majority of HIV strains. That the scientists say could help speed HIV vaccine research.

Scientists have also been trying out different strategies and vaccines such as the Peptide vaccines. These vaccines use small proteins from HIV to trigger an immune response. Other vaccine combinations refered to as prime-boost” combinations have been used one after the other to create stronger immune responses against the HIV virus.